UV lamps: how to track operating time and stay within service life
A lamp lasts 8,000–9,000 hours: it still shines, but no longer disinfects. What to record, how to calculate operating time, and why it must never be switched on when people are present.
A UV germicidal lamp is an inexpensive, effective way to reduce airborne microbes in a production area and on surfaces. But a lamp does not last forever: each model has a service life, usually 8,000–9,000 hours. After that, it may still shine while its germicidal effectiveness is gone.
What to record
- Switch-on and switch-off times.
- Cumulative operating hours.
- Lamp replacement, including its part number and date.
- The responsible person's signature.
An exposed germicidal lamp may operate only when no one is in the room. Switching it on between shifts while people are present can injure eyes and skin. Install a timer relay with a door interlock.
A simpler approach
In an electronic log, the lamp has a counter: switching it on starts the timer, and switching it off stops it. As the lamp approaches the end of its service life, a replacement task is created automatically. No more guessing that the lamp is probably still good.
All 45 SanPiN and HACCP journals are in one workspace. The free plan is free forever for up to 1 employee, with no card required.
Get started for free